International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol: 12 No: 03

96

A Study on the Container Yard Utilization of

the Major Ports in Indonesia Eastern Region
Misliah Idrus, Lawalenna Samang, Rahardjo Adisasmita, Ganding Sitepu, and M. Isran Ramli

AbstractThis paper attempts to analyze the utilization of

container yards of major ports in Indonesian Eastern Region for
current condition. In this regard, the study focused on ten major
ports available in the region. The yard occupation ratio (YOR), a
performance indicator of the container yard utilization is
calculated using a general standard model. Furthermore, the
paper forecasts the demand of the container yard using the growth
method in order to evaluate the container yards capacity in the
future. The analysis results show that the utilization of the
container yards is not optimal in serving the container throughput.
In considering the current and future growth of the demand, most
of the container yards of the major ports in the region need
improvement and development efforts in order to increase their
serving in the future.
KeywordsContainer yard, utilization, yard occupation ratio
(YOR), major port, Indonesia Eastern Region

I. INTRODUCTION

OWADAYS, a port plays important role on the sea

transportation system [1, 2, 3] for archipelago countries
such Indonesia [3]. A port is node between the sea
transportation system and the land system in order to support [4,
5] and actuate economic developments of a region or country
[6]. It is also a place for loading and unloading activities of trade
commodities [7, 8]; and the embarkation or debarkation of ship
passenger [8]. Therefore, planning of the sea transportation
system need to consider and integrate many aspects, such as
ship services, port infrastructures such the container yard, the
potency of region and the network of land transportation to
hinterland region, etc [6].

In Indonesia, mostly ports are managed by PT. Pelabuhan

Indonesia (PELINDO), a port agency that owned by Indonesia
Government. Particularly in Indonesia eastern region, the ports
are managed by PT.PELINDO IV. The company has been
managing 19 ports that available on ten provinces in the region
[9-14]. In this regard, the total wide area of the region is 45.76%
of Indonesias wide area [14]. The annual growth rate of
commodities flow on the ports during 2005 2010 increased
averagely 9.66% [9-14]. Particularly, the container throughput
has annual growth 13.42% averagely during the period [14]. In
case of Makassar port, the biggest port in the region, the
container throughput increase from 23.83% to 39.84% [9-14].
In serving the above ports activities, the container yard
facility is one of primary facilities that used to storage the
container throughput from or to ships. It is needed to prevent
delay risk of ships that will cause the production of
loading-unloading activity decrease, also the stay or waiting
time of ships or commodities become long.
Regarding the background, this paper attempts to analyze
utilization of the container yards of the major ports in Indonesia
eastern region that managed by PT. PELINDO IV. Furthermore,
the study conducts a forecasting of the container throughput in
order to evaluate the serving capacity of the container yard in
the future.
The rest of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2
describes calculation model of container yard utilization.
Section 3 explains the study method, then, Section 4 presents
the calculation result and discussion. The final section, Section
5 provides the conclusion of this study.

II. CALCULATION MODEL OF CONTAINER YARD UTILIZATION

Idrus, M., is a doctoral student of Graduate School of Engineering of
Hasanuddin University. She is now with Naval Architecture Department,
Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10,
Makassar, 90145, Indonesia (e-mail: misliahidrus@gmail.com).
Samang, L., is a Professor of Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, Hasanudddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10,
Makassar, 90145, Indonesia (e-mail: samang_l@yahoo.com).
Adisasmita, R., is a Professor of Graduate School of Engineering,
Hasanudddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10, Makassar, 90145,
Indonesia (e-mail: rahardjoadisasmita@gmail.com).
Sitepu, G., is an Associate Professor of Naval Architecture Department,
Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10,
Makassar, 90145, Indonesia (e-mail: gandingsitepu@gmail.com)
Ramli, M. I., is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Department,
Faculty of Engineering, Hasanudddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan
Km.10, Makassar, 90145, Indonesia (e-mail: muhisran@yahoo.com).

The utilization of the container yard is one of performance

indicators of port that is important tool for the port management
in evaluation, monitoring, improvement and development
planning of a port. The general standard model [15] that is used
in analyzing the container yard utilization are given by Equation
(1), Equation (2), Equation (3), and Equation (4), respectively.
First of all, the standard model estimates the dwelling time
(DT) of a container storage using the Equation (1) as follows.
DT =

V p xT p

(1)

Vt

1210703-8686 IJET-IJENS @ June 2012 IJENS

IJENS

International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol: 12 No: 03

Where Vp is number of cargo party in ton or m3; Tp is storage
time of each cargo party in day unit; an Vt is number of cargo
storage in a certain time period in ton or m3.
In order to describe the flow rate of the container throughput
in the container yard, the shed throughput (STP) is calculated
using Equation (2) as follows.
STP =

Vt
As

(2)

C. The Data Analysis

Using the primary and secondary data, this study analyzes
operational characteristics of the container yards such as
dwelling time, shed throughput (STP), and utilized capacity,
using Equation (1), Equation (2), and Equation (3) respectively.
In further, we analyze the utilization of the container yard in
term yard occupancy ratio (YOR) using Equation (4). In order
to evaluate the yard capacity in the future, this study also
forecasts the container yard demand using the growth method
approach through repeating the application of those equations.

Where Vt is a number of cargo in a certain time period in ton or

m3; Ae is the effective wide of the container yard.
Then, the effective capacity (Cef) of the container yard is
calculated using Equation (3) as follows.

C ef

Wc
xN s
We
=
DYxT s

(3)

Where We is the effective wide of the container yard in m2; Wc is

the wide of the container yard in m2; Ns is a number of the
container storage in TEUS; DY is a number of day in a year; Ta
is the storage time of a container.
Finally, the container yard utilization in term of shed
occupancy ratio (SOR) or yard occupancy ratio (YOR) can be
calculated using Equation (4) as follows.
SOR / YOR =

V p xDT
C ef

97

IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

A. The Number and Growth Rate of Cargo
The number of cargo on the eight major ports in 2010 is
shown in Figure1, and the growth rate of the cargo is shown in
Figure 2. Figure 1 shows that most of the ports have demand
cargo in 2010 from 50,000 TEUS until 100,000 TEUS.
However, Balikpapan port has number of cargo achieved
200,000 TEUS. Figure 2 shows that the growth rate of the cargo
during 1998 until 2010 is 10% until 20%, except Jayapura port
has growth rate about slightly more than 30%. Generally, the
growth rate of cargo is averagely 15.61%.

(4)

III. STUDY METHOD

A. The Selected Sampling of the Ports
In this study, we selected eight major ports that located in
Indonesia eastern region and managed by PT. PELINDO IV.
The eight ports are Makassar port, Balikpapan port, Samarinda
port, Bitung port, Ambon port, Jayapura port, Sorong port, and
Biak port. The first port is located in Makassar, a capital city of
the Sulawesi Island; the next two are located in the Kalimantan
Island; the fourth port is located in the northern Sulawesi Island;
the fifth port is located in Ambon, a capital city of Maluku
Island; the last three are ports that located in Papua Island. All of
the ports are categorized as twenty five strategies ports in
Indonesia.
B. The Data Collection
The data in this study consists of two categories, the primary
and the secondary data. The primary includes the stay time and
the method of the container storage. The data are collected
through an observation in the field. Meanwhile, the secondary
data that include the demand data, and characteristics of the
ports and container yard facilities, etc., are collected from many
source of technical reports of PT. PELINDO IV [9-14].

Fig.1 Number of Cargo in 2010

Fig.2 Annual Average of Cargo Growth Rate in 1998 - 2010

1210703-8686 IJET-IJENS @ June 2012 IJENS

IJENS

International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol: 12 No: 03

98

B. The Change of Cargo Share based on Containerization

The change of cargo share based on containerization during
the last decade, 2000 2010, from the general cargo to the
container cargo is enough large. The phenomena of the eight
major ports are shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 for the number
of general cargo and number of container cargo, respectively.
o
gr
aC
la
re
n
e
G
f
o
re
b
m
u
N

3,500,000
3,000,000

2000

) 2,500,000
S
U
E 2,000,000
T(

2010

1,500,000
1,000,000

Fig.5 Wide of Container Yard

500,000
0

Major Ports in Indonesia Eastern Region

Fig.3 Number of General Cargo

Figure 3 shows that the general cargo has decreased amount
26.75%. In other side, Figure 4 shows that the container cargo
have increased about 30.73%.

Fig.6 Storage Time

Fig.4 Number of Container Cargo

C. Operational Characteristics of the Container Yards
There are three operational characteristics of the container
yards that play important role in evaluation of the container
yards utilization. The three are the wide of container yard, the
storage time, and the capacity of the container yard. Figure 5,
Figure 6, and Figure 7 show the performances of the three
characteristics of the eight major ports, respectively.
Figure 5 shows that Bitung and Makassar ports are the first
two the widest container yards. Both ports have wide around
60,000 m2. Samarinda port is the second widest that has 40,000
m2. The others ports have only less than 20,000 m2.

Fig.7 Capacity of Container Yard

Figure 6 shows that the storage times of almost container
yards are around 10 days until 12 days, except Sorong port has
storage time about 15 days. However, Bitung and Makassar
ports have storage time about 7days. It means that both ports,
Bitung and Makassar ports, have operating performance better
than the others.

1210703-8686 IJET-IJENS @ June 2012 IJENS

IJENS

International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol: 12 No: 03

Figure 7 shows that Makassar port has the largest capacity
among the container yards. It has capacity about more than
350,000 TEUS/year. Then, Bitun and Samarinda ports are the
second largest capacity. Both ports have capacity around
150,000 200,000 TEUS/year. Meanwhile, the others ports
have only capacity about 50,000 100,000 TEUS/year.
D. The Utilization of the Container Yard
According the data analysis results, the utilization of the
container yards of the eight major ports in Indonesia eastern
region in 2010 is shown blue color of histogram in Figure 8.
The figure shows that the utilization of the container yards is
slightly low. There are eight ports have YOR values that
fluctuated between 20% until 80%. However, there are two
ports, Balikpapan and Samarinda ports, have YOR values more
than 100%.

Fig.8 Utilization of Container Yard

By using the growth rate value of the cargo as provided in
Figure 2, we forecast the number of container until 2015 as
shown by the red color of histogram in Figure 9. Then, we
continue to evaluate the container yards utilization until 2015 as
shown by the red color of histogram in Figure 8.

99

The forecasting results show that the average YOR values of

the ten ports in 2015 are very high. There are five ports have
YOR values more than 100%. However, there are three ports,
Makassar port, Biak port, and Bitung port, have YOR values
equal and less than 50%. These indicate that most of the major
ports are need improvement and development in order to
increase their capacity to serve the demand of the container
throughput in the future.

V. CONCLUSION
This paper have studied the container yards utilization of
eight major ports in Indonesia eastern region. By using the
primary and secondary data, we attempted to grasp the container
yards operating characteristics performances and demand of the
container throughput such as wide and capacity of the container
yards, the storage time at the container yards, the number and
growth rate of cargo, and the change of the general cargo to
container cargo. Then, as focus of this paper, we calculate the
container yards utilization using the general standard model of
yard occupancy ratio (YOR). In order to evaluate the container
yard capacity in the future, the paper forecasts the demand of the
container throughput and used it again to calculate the YOR.
The analysis results show that mostly container yards of the
eight major ports have good operating characteristic
performance. However, their utilization performance that
indicated by YOR values are not yet optimal, due to the demand
of container throughput are large enough. This condition may
become worse when we evaluated the utilization of the
container yard for the next few years through a forecasting
method. Therefore, most of the container yards of the eight
major ports are need capacity improvement and development in
the future.
Finally, the result of this paper provides a basic input in
analyzing of the container yards performance in others views,
and we expect that it can be used in optimizing of the container
yards capacities and modeling the demand in further studies.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to thank the PT. PELINDO IV that allow us to
access and utilize its data for the purpose of this paper, and also
for the support and useful discussions in this paper. Without its
cooperation, this paper would be possible to be arranged.

REFERENCES
[1]

[2]

[3]

Fig.9 Forecasting of Number of Cargo

Vacca, I., Salani, M., and Bierlaire, M., 2010, Optimization of operations
in container terminals: hierarchical vs integrated approaches, Proceeding
of STRC 2010.
Huang, S.Y., Hsu, W-J., Chen, C., Ye, R. and Nautiyal, S., 2008,
Capacity analysis of container terminals using simulation techniques,
Int. J. Computer Applications in Technology, Vol. l, pp. 246-253.
Syafii, Kuroda, K., and Takebayashi, M., 2005, Forecasting the demand
of container throughput in Indonesia, Memoirs of Construction
Engineering Research Institute, Vol. 47.

1210703-8686 IJET-IJENS @ June 2012 IJENS

IJENS

International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS Vol: 12 No: 03

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]

Murty, K.G., 2007, Yard Crane Pools and Optimum Layouts for Storage
Yards of Container Terminals, Journal of Industrial and Systems
Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp 190-199.
Kiani, M., Sayareh, J., and Nooramin, S., 2010, A Simulation Framework
for Optimizing Truck Congestion in Marine Terminal, Journal of
Maritime Research, Vol. 7, No. I, pp. 55-70.
Notteboom, T., 2009, Economic analysis of the European seaport system,
Report serving as input for the discussion on the TEN-T policy,
ITTMA-University of Antwerp.
Vis, I. F. A. and R. de Koster, 2003, Transshipment of containers at a
container terminal: An Overview, European Journal of Operational
Research, 147, pp. 1-16.
Steenken, D., Vob, S., and Stahlbok, R., 2004, Container terminal
operation and operation research- a classification and literature review,
OR Spectrum, 26, pp. 3-49.
PELINDO IV, 2006, Annual Report 2005, Centre Office of PT. Indonesia
Port IV (PELINDO IV), Makassar, Indonesia. In Indonesian language.
PELINDO IV, 2006, Annual Report 2006, Centre Office of PT. Indonesia
Port IV (PELINDO IV), Makassar, Indonesia. In Indonesian language.
PELINDO IV, 2006, Annual Report 2007, Centre Office of PT. Indonesia
Port IV (PELINDO IV), Makassar, Indonesia. In Indonesian language.
PELINDO IV, 2007, Annual Report 2008, Centre Office of PT. Indonesia
Port IV (PELINDO IV), Makassar, Indonesia. In Indonesian language.
PELINDO IV, 2006, Annual Report 2009, Centre Office of PT. Indonesia
Port IV (PELINDO IV), Makassar, Indonesia. In Indonesian language.
PELINDO IV, 2006, Annual Report 2010, Centre Office of PT. Indonesia
Port IV (PELINDO IV), Makassar, Indonesia. In Indonesian language.
General Directorate of Sea Transportation of Indonesia Transporation
Ministry, and JICA, 2000, Port Development Manual (Translated from
Port Development Handbook, UNCTAD). In Indonesian language.

Misliah Idrus obtained Bachelor degree in Naval Engineering

from Hasanuddin Univeristy. She achieved Master degree in
Transportation System in Bandung Institute of Technology,
Indonesia. Now, she is studying for Doctoral Course in
Hasanuddin Univeristy in transporation major field.
She has become a lecturer at Naval Architecture Department of Engineering
Faculty of Hasanuddin University since 1985 until present. Her major teaching
is related to sea transportation system. In addition, she has become an expert in
many sea transportation projects.
Idrus, M.Eng., is a member of Indonesia Society on Transportation branch
of South Sulawesi Province. She has also published many papers in many
national academic meetings in Indonesia, as well as in international symposium
or conference.
Lawalenna Samang was born in Sidrap, Indonesia in April 5th,
1960. He obtained Bachelor degree at Hasanuddin University,
Indonesia, in 1984, in the field of Civil Engineering. He
achieved Master degree in Regional Planning and Development
at Graduate School of Hasanuddin University, Indonesia, in
1989. He also obtained Master of Engineering in Geotechnical
Engineering on Civil Engineering Department of Graduate School of
Engineering, Saga University, Japan in 1994. Then, he achieved Doctor of
Engineering degree at the same field and university in 1997.
He has become a lecturer at Civil Engineering Department of Engineering
Faculty of Hasanuddin University since 1985 until present. His major teaching
is related to Geotechnical Engineering. He has achieved Professor in the field of
geotechnical engineering at the department since 2006. Now, he is also a dean
of Civil Engineering Department of Hasanuddin University.
Prof. Samang is chief of Civil Engineering inter-University Forum of
Indonesia since 2011 until now. He is a member of Indonesia Society on
Transportation branch of South Sulawesi Province. He has also published many
papers in many national academic meetings in Indonesia, as well as in
international symposium or conference.

100

Rahardjo Adisasmita is senior Professor in Economics Faculty of Hasanuddin

University, Indonesia. He has become a lecturer at Graduate School of
Engineering Hasanuddin University. His major teaching is related to
Economics Transport. In addition, he has become an advisor in many sea
transportation projects in Indonesia.
Prof. Adisasmita is a member of Indonesia Society on Transportation branch
of South Sulawesi Province. He has also published many papers in many
national academic meetings in Indonesia, as well as in international symposium
or conference. Recently, he has published some economic transportation books
related to the regional development topics.
Ganding Sitepu was born in April 25th, 1960. He obtained
Bachelor degree at Hasanuddin University, Indonesia, in 1979,
in the field of Naval Architecture. He achieved Master degree
at TU Harburg, Hamburg University, Germany, in 1996, on the
same field. He obtained Doctor of Engineering degree in
Graduate School of Engineering, Hasanuddin University,
Indonesia, in 2010.
He has become a lecturer at Naval Architecture Department of Engineering
Faculty of Hasanuddin University since 1980 until present. His major teaching
is related to Naval Architecture. In addition, she has become an expert in many
sea transportation projects.
Dr. Eng. Sitepu is a member of Indonesia Society on Transportation branch
of South Sulawesi Province. He has also published many papers in many
national academic meetings in Indonesia, as well as in international symposium
or conference.
Muhammad Isran Ramli was born in Pare-pare, South
Sulawesi Province, Indonesia in September 26th, 1973. He
obtained Bachelor degree at Hasanuddin University,
Indonesia, in 1997, in the field of civil engineering. Then, he
achieved Master degree at Civil Engineering Department,
Graduate School of Engineering, Bandung Institute of
Technology, Indonesia, in 2001, on Transportation Engineering field. Finally,
he obtained Doctor of Engineering degree in Urban and Environmental
Engineering Department, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University,
Japan, in the early of 2012, in the Travel Behavior Analysis field, the important
field study of Transportation Planning.
He has become a lecturer and researcher Civil Engineering Department of
Hasanuddin University since 2000. He has achieved Associate Professor in the
field of transportation engineering at the department since 2007. Now, he is
also a chief editor of Journal of Transportation Engineering Studies (in
Indonesia language) that published by Civil Engineering Department of
Hasanuddin University.
Dr. Eng. Ramli has become a Regular Member of East Asian Society on
Transportation Studies (EASTS) since 2007, a Member of Japan Society on
Civil Engineering (JSCE) since 2011, a Member and Reviewer of World
Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology (WASET), a Member and
Committee of Indonesia Society on Transportation (IST) since 2002, a
Member and Committee of Indonesia Forum inter University on Transportation
Studies) (IFUTS) since 2001, and a Member and Committee of Indonesia Road
Development Association (IRDA) since 2002. He has published many research
papers in journal and academic meetings, not only in national level, but also in
international level. His the last paper, Accommodating flexible daily temporal
constraint on a continuous choice model of departure time for urban shopping
travel, be blessed with the best paper award in 2011 from International Journal
of Urban Science (IJUS). Now, he is a reviewer on Journal of Research in
International Business and Management (JRIBM), and Universal Journal of
Education and General Studies (UJEGS)

1210703-8686 IJET-IJENS @ June 2012 IJENS

IJENS